Holiday Wassail, Jane Austen Style

Last month, my family and I had an amazing experience joining the Regency Assembly of North Carolina, dancing at the Savannah Ships of the Sea Museum, the historic home site of William and Julia Scarbrough. 

For several months leading up to that night, we practiced our list of regency dances, and fretted over what clothes needed to be made, bought, or borrowed.  But in the end, it was Ruth Verbunt, the organizer and founder of Regency Assembly of North Carolina, who pulled us all together and made us all look and feel beautiful!  

Here is my girl all decked out in her handmade Regency-period dress with beautiful calf-skin leather gloves,  a generous gift from Ruth.  

(Group photo by Marla Gold)

Our dancing group looks quite dashing, don't we?  Except that all night, while dancing, I kept poking everyone's eyes or tickling Frans' (the tallest gentleman's) nose with my crazy-tall plumes.  

After our segment of demonstration dancing, the public joined in and we all danced "Physical Snob", a super-fun dance with lots of skipping!  

Overall, it was a night to remember!  Regency dancing is so beautiful and fun, I hope you will give it a try when you have the opportunity!  My blogger friend, Jenna, also has blogged about her Regency dancing experience here.  

Now where were we?  Ah, the wassail.  Here is fragrant wassail recipe from the Jane Austen Centre website, Bath, England.   Happy December everyone!  

Visit Savannah's beautiful Ships of the Sea Museum

Holiday Wassail, Jane Austen Style

Recipe adapted from The Jane Austen Centre site

1 gallon apple cider
1 large can pineapple juice (unsweetened)
3/4 cup tea (can use your favorite herb tea)

 Place in a cheesecloth sack:
1 Tablespoon whole cloves
1 Tablespoon whole allspice
2 sticks cinnamon

Put all ingredients in a crock pot and simmer in low heat for 4-6 hours. Add water to dilute if it becomes too concentrated. Serve warm, garnished with orange slices and cinnamon sticks.

Serves 20